Mark Gilbert wins 1. Nat. and 6. Internat. Barcelona with only pigeon ever to make it home on the day in UK
by Jorgi Ferrari on 14/07/2023
by Jorgi Ferrari on 14/07/2023
'Southfield History' is the appropriate name for the only 2 year old hen that amazed the pigeon world. She is the first and only pigeon ever to arrive back on the loft on the day of release of the international Barcelona race!Last friday she stunned the pigeon world by arriving back home just before nightfall. "Anyone who knows me will tell you how much I want to win Barcelona in the UK and how I have always said with the right conditions, right preparation and more importantly the right pigeons we could get a day pigeon on the clock", says Mark.
"Well now we made history at Southfield managing to clock the very first pigeon on the day from Barcelona. They were liberated at 6am and after flying 698 miles (1,123 km) in 15 hours and 51 minutes we managed to win 1st National and 6th International from 16,561 birds."
"Well now we made history at Southfield managing to clock the very first pigeon on the day from Barcelona. They were liberated at 6am and after flying 698 miles (1,123 km) in 15 hours and 51 minutes we managed to win 1st National and 6th International from 16,561 birds."
Mark presenting 'Southfield History'
" 'Southfield History’ as she is now called was paired up earlier in the season and sent on a 5 day baby and she pulled out all the stops to get home to that baby. We decided to have a go at the Internationals on 'natural only' ( this year and it has really paid off as we were also 1st National, 6th International from Pau."
Even though she is only 2 years old she does have previous form. Last year she flew the National Flying club Pau race and after flying 570 miles (917 km) in just over 15 and 1/2 hours scored 10th section, 33rd National. Incidentally in the same race her nest mate scored 4th section, 19th Open. Not bad for a pair of yearlings.
Even though she is only 2 years old she does have previous form. Last year she flew the National Flying club Pau race and after flying 570 miles (917 km) in just over 15 and 1/2 hours scored 10th section, 33rd National. Incidentally in the same race her nest mate scored 4th section, 19th Open. Not bad for a pair of yearlings.
Her Father is Son Naomi of Cor de Heijde 6th Int. Barcelona and her Mother won 17th Int. Barcelona for Twan Bongers so the apple didn’t fall far from those trees!
Mark wants to end by thanking everyone who congratulated him: "I would just like to say thanks so much for all the messages I really do appreciate them but there are so many I would be here for days trying to answer them all."
Southfield History in the loft
The wing of Southfield History
